Hollywood Secrets: Reality Show Edition

I always love demystifying Hollywood whether it is from the "days of yore" (Guess which show that quote is from) or taking current accepted practices in the entertainment industry and revealing the truth. Today's edition of Hollywood secrets is telling you the truth about reality shows.......they aren't real.  Here are three things to think about:

1. The Kardashian House:  Yes, I try to keep this site as Kardashian-free as possible, but this fact irks me.  The house that they show in Keeping Up With The Kardashians is not even in Calabasas.  It is in Studio City on a heavily-traveled street that not only counts George Clooney as a neighbor, but it is also the exit of a well-trafficked canyon and hiking trail in LA.  This house is so recognizable, I have no idea why the producers tried to pretend that it is their home. (I know the Kardashians want privacy, but this home is SO well-known.)  In fact, they need to figure out what they are going to do for next season because the house is for sale. I hope the new owners negotiate a fat fee to pass their home off as a Kardashian home.  Below are a few photos I took on my recent hike and check out a recent real estate article about this farce.

2.  Housewives:  Let's all just admit it, most of us watch one franchise or the other.  I am a huge fan of the Beverly Hills edition because it is so close to home.  The stories that have evolved from this series are dramatic and often tragic, but they are real.  It's is sometimes hard to remember that what we are watching on camera is a person's real life.  This fact hit me on Friday when I was at the GBK Productions MTV Movie Awards gifting suite when I interviewed Taylor Armstrong who has had a tough year.  In my mind, she is always crying, breaking down, and fighting demons in her life because that is what I have watched on the show the last two seasons.  Well, it was refreshing to see her happy and full of joy during our interview.  She couldn't confirm that they were currently filming the next season, but I can confirm they are.  Let's hope her story takes a turn towards happiness:



If you want to see the Chagoury Couture dress we both wore and mentioned in this interview, click here.


3.  The Bachelor:  This is probably one of the most fake shows on TV.  I used to watch it for the cheese factor, but it is amazing to me how many people buy into this fantasy. If you don't believe me, go visit my friend, Reality Steve.  He will give you the inside scoop on the smoke and mirrors of this franchise.  I honestly think this show needs to fade away, but y'all keep watching.  Stop it!  Anyway, here's a 2010 interview with Vienna Girardi, "winner" of Jake Pavelka's season.  She debunks the fancy food and timeline of the show.  You can see her comments at the 1:14 mark:



What do you think about the "reality" of reality television and why do you keep watching The Bachelor?

Infomercials Update

A snapshot from my hotel TV earlier this year.

Happy Holidays!  Are you in the swing of the holiday season yet?  I am happily ensconced in LA for most of the month while I catch up on Oscar fare, friends, and my workout regime. (I plan on eating a lot this holiday season.)  I'm going to update you on a few projects that I worked on earlier this year:  The Amazing Mat and the EZ Curler. (In addition, The Rhythm Rocker continues to run almost two years later.) Yes, that means you will be seeing me on your TV screens in the middle of the night when you have insomnia.  First up, The Amazing Mat and FYI, I have one by my door and it works really well!

 

Next up:  EZ Curler.  This is the styling tips video, but the full infomercial will be running soon with a couple of familiar Bachelor/Bachelor Pad faces.



I will announce my Caption the Photo contest winner tomorrow, so get in those last minute entries.  It's pretty simple:  come up with a creative caption, win a prize!

Bad TV

Yep, I'm guilty of watching bad reality shows all summer long.  It's my guilty pleasure and I find that the busier my work life gets, the worse my television viewing gets.  I just cannot stop.  My name is Kristyn and I am a crappy TV viewer.  I am the one who keeps reality shows on the air and gets SAG (Screen Actors Guild) up in arms over the lack of work for actors. I am the one who thinks she has seen it all with the each Housewives franchise, but then hops aboard the next city.  Hello, DC!  And don't think I am not excited for the Beverly Hills franchise.  Come on, they are giving us Kelsey Grammer's ex-wife and a Hilton, all in one show!  Then, I scoff at the cheesy dates each bachelor goes on with Ali while she giggles every word out of her mouth on The Bachelorette.  It annoys me--yet I still watch.  I picked up the remote on Monday to watch The Bachelor Pad which basically is a hybrid version of MTV's The The Real World and Road Rules. Yes, we are out of our 20's, so please give us a grown-up version of debauchery in our 30's.  Thanks, ABC.  Yet, last night was a night of triumph for me as Jeff Lewis and his circus of animals and employees returned to Flipping Out on Bravo.  I love his mouthy, lazy housekeeper, Zoila, and Jeff's penchant for fast food.  I can't wait to watch him meltdown all season long over the remodel of Casa Vega in Studio City which has been dubbed the "best place to have an affair in the middle of the afternoon" because it is so dark. Dirty and scandalous things happen there and Jeff is only going to add to the drama.  Jeff Lewis makes me feel so....normal.....and boring.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I love to watch documentaries on Netflix, so I do exercise my brain from time to time.   I even joined the Mad Men band wagon because Don Draper's handsome facade intrigues me.  He will do something so kind for Peggy and then pull such a heartless move on his secretary.  It's just business, my friend.  So, I manage to get in a little quality television each week, but then I equalize the playing field with ABC Family's Make It or Break It.  Hey, I love gymnastics!  The extent of my bad television doesn't end there.  I love spoilers and the internet is ripe with them. Do you want to know who the final four are on The Bachelor Pad?  Oh yeah, I already know.  I knew who Ali picked on The Bachelorette before the finale.  Now, I don't sources at ABC, but my pal, Reality Steve does.  I honestly have no idea who this guy really is, but someone took a shine to him from the set of Mike Fleiss' shows and he gets the best scoop. ABC and Fleiss might not enjoy it, but I sure do.  I don't know why I like to find out what happens before the finale, but I also like to take a sneak peek at my Christmas gifts way before December 25th.  One of my dream interviews is Reality Steve.  He can spoil the next season of The Bachelor for me while I get another round of bad television scoop.  I wonder if he would be up for an interview?  Hey, a couch potato can dream!

 I can't be the only one out there that likes cheesy TV.  Anyone?  Anyone? Who's in this with me or am I all alone in admitting my TV tastes are often lowbrow.  Tell me your favorite bad shows in the comments section or make some suggestions in quality television to help raise my IQ points.  Happy viewing!